Parallel-motion-supported picker stick check for looms



J. C. CROCKER March 27, 1956 PARALLEL-MOTION-SUPPORTED PICKER STICKCHECK FOR LOOMS Filed Aug. 10, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 JOHN C. CROCKER, INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS March 27, 1956 J. c. CROCKER 2,739,622

PARALLEL-MOTIONSUPPORTED PICKER STICK CHECK FOR LOOMS Filed Aug. 10,1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 JOHN C. CROCKER, INVENTOR.

ATTORNE YS United States Patent PARALLEL-MGTION-SUPPURTED PICKER STICKCHECK FOR LOOMS John C. Crocker, Ware Shoals, S. C. Application August10, 1953, Serial No. 373,140

17 Ciaims. (Cl. 13fi-150) This invention relates to looms, and moreespecially to an improved picker stick check associated with the usualparallel motion, this application being a continuation-in-part of myco-pending application, Serial Number 309,879, filed September 16, 1952,and entitled Parallel Tongue and Picker Stick Check for Looms, nowPatent Number 2,655,183, issued October 13, 1953.

In said co-pending application, improved forms of parallel tongues aredisclosed each of which is fixed to the inner edge of the picker stickand is carried by the parallel shoe and which has a substantiallyU-shaped portion on the lower end thereof whose opposite legs straddleand slidably engage a transverse shaft carried by the oscillating standor parallel base and, in one form, a compression spring is disposed inthe U-shaped portion of the tongue and engages the transverse shaft tourge the parallel shoe into engagement with the upper surface of theoscillating stand. In another form of the parallel tongue disclosed insaid co-pending application, the usual type of spring actuated drum isconnected to the outer edge of the picker stick by means of the usualheel strap to also serve for maintaining the parallel shoe in engagementwith the upper surface of the oscillating stand.

Now, both forms of said spring means in said co-pending applicationsserve to check inward movement of the picker stick and the first form ofspring means also serves to check outward movement of the picker stick.However, the efiective checking action of the spring means of the firstform above described is substantially the same with both inward andoutward movements of the picker stick and, since the checking action ofthe spring means of the first form of the invention gradually increasesas the picker stick moves either inwardly or outwardly, it has beenfound that the filling yarn or thread becomes slackened as the shuttleis boxed, due to the gradual slowing of the movement of the shuttleeffected by the checking action of the spring means associated with thefirst form of parallel motion above described.

It is, therefore, the primary object of this invention to provide animproved picker stick check adapted to be associated with a paralleltongue of the character disclosed in said co-pending application whichis so arranged as to effect gradually increasing checking pressure onthe picker stick in the course of each inward or active stroke thereofand which, on the other hand, does not have any checking action onoutward movement of the picker stick until the shuttle is substantiallycompletely boxed or has substantially fully entered the correspondingshuttle box, and which picker stick check will then be effective tosuddenly retard and check outward movement of the picker stick underrelatively heavy pressure. The latter means described for checkingoutward movement of the picker stick not only serves to suddenly checkmovement of the shuttle into the corresponding shuttle box; therebyinsuring that the filling yarn or thread is maintained under propertension, but it also serves to prevent the picker on the upper end ofthe picker stick from being thrown against the lay end plate thereby icegreatly increasing the usual life of a picker as compared to pickersheretofore used in association with the usual types of picker stickchecks.

More specifically, it is an object of this invention to provide a pickerstick check comprising a heel plate adapted to be secured to the outeredge of the curved lower portion of the picker stick and to also providean extension on the parallel base with means for connecting oppositeends of a compression spring to said extension and to the lower end ofthe heel plate, respectively, whereby the compression spring isgradually compressed in the course of an inward or shuttle propellingstroke of the picker stick. Further, the lower end of a parallel tongueof the character disclosed in said co-pending application has a rigidframe member or strap member fixed thereto and projecting inwardlytherefrom to which a resilient bumper is secured and which bumper is sopositioned as-to engage the lower surface of the parallel baseimmediately before the picker stick reaches the end of an outward stroketo thereby suddenly check outward movement of the picker stick andwhich, in so doing, permits the shuttle to become substantially fullyboxed before movement thereof is checked and which, as above stated,also prevents the picker from engaging the lay end plate at the outerend of the corresponding shuttle box.

It is still another object of this invention to provide an improvedpicker stick check and parallel motion of the character describedwherein all of the parts thereof may be used at either side of the loom;that is, at either end of the usual sword-supporting rocker shaft,without the necessity of making right-hand and left-hand parts.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objectswill appear as the description procoeds, when taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a fragmentary elevationof the lower lefthand portion of a loom as though looking from the frontof a loom and showing the parallel motion and the improved picker stickcheck in association therewith;

Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the outer end ofthe parallel motionembodying the improved picker stick check and looking at the left-handside of the lower portion of Figure 1 with the compression spring brokenaway;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view showing the picker stickin cross section and being taken substantially along line 3-3 in Figure1;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken along line fl4in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4, but showing the picker stick inan inward inclined position;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 4, but showing a" modified form ofheel plate or heel spring anchor connected to the lower end of thepicker stick and also showing another form of resilient arresting means;

Figure 7 is an outer end elevation looking at the lefthand side ofFigure 6, but omitting the outer spring.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 (Figure 1)indicates the loom frame, carrying the usual rocker shaft 11 on which issecured the hub 9 of an improved oscillating stand or parallel basebroadly designated at 12 in the first form of the invention shown inFigures 1 to 5, inclusive. The oscillating stand or. parallel base 12has a flat-topped outwardly extending plate portion 13 integraltherewith and the oscillating stand or parallel base 12 may be ofconventional construction with the exception of a parallel extension 13aintegral with, and projecting outwardly from, the outer end of the plateportion 13. The purpose of the extension 13a will be later described.Since the usual type of spring actuated drum is not used with theimproved picker stick check, it should be noted that the hub 9 issubstantially 3 concentric with the plate portion 13 and picker stick15, so that the parallel motion, may be used at either end of the rockershaft, thereby obviating the use of right-hand and left-hand parts.

The plate portion 13 of the parallelbase or oscillating stand 12' isprovided with the usual opening- 14- through which the lower portion ofaconventional picker stick 15' loosely extends. The lower portion of thepicker stick 15' also loosely extends through an opening- 19- in aconventional parallel shoe 16 having a curved lower surface 17 whichrocks longitudinally upon the oscillating stand or parallel base 1-2 andalso oscillates lat erally' therewith, as is customary. The pickerstick- 15 is fixed to the parallel shoe 16 by a bolt 20- whichpenetrates an upwardly projecting portion or shank 21 integral with theshoe 16 and which bolt also penetrates one form of an improvedcombination heel plate and spring connector. Of course, the upperportion of the improved tongue, similar tothat disclosed in saidcopcnding application, is interposed between the projection or shank 21of the parallel shoe 16- and the picker stick 15.

The picker stick 15 is actuated by any suitable means such as a lugstrap 24- connected with the usual picking mechanism, not shown. InFigures 1 and 4, the picker stick is shown in an outer inclinedposition; that is, in a position outwardly of the neutraLorsubstantially vertical position and to which outwardly inclined positionthe picker stick is moved by impact of a shutle, not shown. In Figure 5,the picker stick is shown in an inwardly inclined position to which itis moved by the lug strap 24 for throwing the shuttle across the lay inthe usual manner.

The improved parallel tongue, roadly designated at 30, is ofsubstantially the same construction as the parallel tongue disclosed insaid copending application and comprises a substantially U-shapedyokeportion- 31 having spaced parallel upwardly extending arms orlegs 32and 33, the leg 33 being substantially longer than the leg 32 andextending upwardly through the opening 14 in the plate portion 13 of theparallel base 12 and also extending upwardly through the opening 19 inthe parallel shoes 16 and being suitably secured to the inner surface ofthe picker stick 15 by the bolt 29. The leg 33 of the parallel tongueactually forms a Jshaped member and is preferably provided with flanges34 on opposed sides thereof between which the lower portion of thepicker stick 15 fits. The upper end of the inner arm 32 of theU-shapedor yoke portion 31 of the parallel tongue 30 preferablyterminates against or in closely spaced relationship to the lower curvedsurface 17 of the parallel shoe 16.

It is evident that the position of the picker stick and the paralleltongue 3%) may be adjusted relative to the parallel shoe 16 by means ofa set screw 35 which threadably penetrates the upper portion of theupwardly eX- tending projection or portion 21 of the parallel shoe l6and bears against the corresponding surface of the legor arm 33 of theparallel tongue St), the adjustment screw 35 being maintained in theproper position by a lock nut 36. The two legs or arms 32 and 33' ofthe'tongue 30 form an opening in which a bushing 41 is slidably andoscillatably mounted on a transverse shaft 42 fixed in opposite Walls ofthe opening 14 in the oscillating stand or parallel base 12.

The tongue 3% differs from the tongues shown in said co-pendingapplications in that the lower end of the U- shaped portion 31 thereofhas a rigid strap member 45 suitably secured thereto, as by' a bolt 46,the head of which is spaced beneath the bushing 41 to permit the outerportion of the shoe 16 to move upwardly away from the hat upper surfaceof the plate portion 13 of the oscillating stand or parallel base 12 asit moves to the inwardly inclined position as shown in Figure 5, and toalso. permitthe inner end of the shoe lfi to move away from the flatupper surface of the plate portion 13 of the oscillating stand 12 as thepicker stick 15 is moved to the outwardly inclinedposition showninFigures l and 4. The lower portion of the U-shaped portion 31 of thetongue 30 is cut away to form a notch 47 in which an upturned portion 50at the outer end of the rigid strap member 45 is positioned to preventthe strap member 45 from pivoting about the bolt 46.

The strap member 45 is apart of the means for checking outward movementof the picker stick, and has a longitudinally extending adjustment slot51 in the inner end thereof which is penetrated by a screw portion 52 ofa resilient bumper supporting plate 53 spaced above the plate or rigidstrap member 45 and to the upper surface of which a resilient bumper 54is suitably secured, as by bolts 55. In the present instance, the screwportion 52 of the bumper supporting plate 53 is shown in the form of ascrew whose head is suitably secured to the lower surface of the plate53 and the screw portion 52 has a pair of lock nuts 56 and '37threadably mountedthereon and engaging the respective upper and lowersurfacesof the strap member 45 to maintain the bumper supporting plate53' in the desired adjusted-position.

The bumper 542 is shown in Figure 4 as though made from rubber or other.resilient, material and it is, to be distinctly understood that anysuitable resilient means.

may be supported on the bumper supporting plate 53 for engaging thelower surface of the plate portion 13 of the oscillating stand orparallel base 12 in the course of outward swinging movement of: thepicker stick 15. For example, a compression spring may be substitutedfor the bumper 54, as will be later described with reference to Figure6, for engaging the lower surface of the plate portion 13 of theoscillating stand 12 in the course of outward movement of the pickerstick 15, The resilient bumper 54. should be so adjusted that, when thepicker stick is in the substantially vertical or neutral position, theupper end of the bumper 54 is spaced slightly from the lower surface ofthe plate portion 13 of the oscillating stand or parallel base 12 sothat, as the picker stick is isswung outwardly under impact of theshuttle, the bumper 54 will not interfere with the boxing of the shuttleand will not retard or check movement of the picker stick 15 until theshuttle is substantially boxed, whereupon the bumper 54 will then engagethe lower surface of the plate portion 13 of the oscil lating stand 12and be compressed slightly thereby to suddenly arrest or check themovement of the shuttle and to thereby insure that the filling thread oryarn remains taut throughout the width of the fabric being wovem This isparticularly important when weaving with rayon or silk yarns. Also, asheretofore stated, the checking action of the bumper 54 engaging thelower. surface of the'platc portion 13 of the oscillating stand 12' issuch that the picker, not shown, is prevented from being driven. againstthe usual lay end plate as the shuttle is boxed.

Now, in order to apply gradually increasing pressure to the picker stick15 in checking inward movement of the same, a compression spring asisvemployed' whichis disposed outwardly of the picker stick and whoselower end engages an outwardly or downwardly inclined tab portion 63 onan improved heel plate 64 whose lower portion is curved to conform tothe usual curved lower end 15a of the picker stick 15 and whose upperportion-is penetrated by the bolt Zllfor securingthe heel plate 64against the outer edge of the picker stick 15. The upper portion of theheel plate 64 is provided with a pair of spaced inwardly projectingflanges 65 which engage opposite sides of. the picker stick 15 to assistin properly positioningv the heel plate 64 on the picker stick 15. Thelower end of the compression spring 62 may be connected to the tabportion 63 on thelower end of the heel plate 64 by any suitable means,and, in the present instance, the tab 63. has an outwardly projectingfinger or pilot 66 integral.

therewith, about which a few turns of the spring 62 are positioned. Afew turns at the upper end of the corn pression spring 62 encircle apilot portion or finger 67.

The upper pilot member 67 has an enlarged medial portion 71 integraltherewith which is preferably polygonallyshaped for the reception of anopen-end wrench or the like to facilitate adjustment of the pilot 67relative to the extension 13a on the oscillating stand 12 and to therebyfacilitate adjustment of the compression spring 62. The threaded upperportion or shank 70 of the upper spring pilot member 67 threadablypenetrates said extension 13a and is held in adjusted position by meansof a lock nut 72 engaging the upper surface of the extension 13a on theoscillating stand 12.

It is thus seen that in the course of inward swinging movement of thepicker stick 15, the compression spring 62 exerts gradually increasingresilient resistance to the inward movement of the picker stick 15 as itis compressed as shown in Figure 5 to thereby resiliently check inwardmovement of the picker stick 15.

Modified or second form of the invention Referring to Figures 6 and 7, amodified form of the invention is illustrated in which all of the partsthereof, with the exception of a second form of heel plate, a washerengaging the outer surface of the picker stick, and a spring being usedto check outward movement of the picker stick, are identical to theparts heretofore described with respect to Figures 1 to 5, inclusive.Therefore, those parts in Figures 6 and 7, which are substantially thesame as parts shown in Figures 1 to 5, inclusive, shall bear the samereference characters with the prime notation 0 added.

In Figures 6 and 7, the heel plate is designated at 74 and its upper endterminates in substantially spaced relation to the bolt The relativelyshort heel plate 74 is suitably secured to the heel or outer edge of thepicker stick, as by a lag screw 75; the lower end of the heel plate 74has a spring supporting projection or tab 76 integral therewith andprojecting outwardly therefrom which is provided with a lower springpilot member 77. A few turns at the lower end of the compression spring62' are mounted upon the pilot 77 and the lower end of the compressionspring 62' bears against the spring engaging portion 76 of the heelplate 74. Of course, when using the modified form of heel plate 74, aconventional type of picker stick washer 8a) is employed which engagesthe outer edge of the picker stick and which is penetrated by the bolt29'. Both types of heel plates 64- and 74 serve the same purpose and afurther description of the operation of the structure shown in Figures 6and 7 is therefore deemed unnecessary.

It is also to be observed in Figure 6 that a compression spring 82 issubstituted for the rubber bumper 54. In Figure 6, the plate 53' has athreaded portion 83 thereon whose threads have a lead and diametercorresponding to the spring 82 so the spring 82 is secured on the plate53' by being threaded onto the threaded portion 33. Of course, thespring 82 serves the same purpose as the bumper 54 and a furtherdescription thereof is deemed unnecessary.

It is thus seen that I have provided improved means for checking inwardand outward swinging movement of the picker stick and wherein theshuttle may be substantially fully boxed before the outward check meansis effective and whereupon the outward check means then suddenlyresiliently checks the outward movement of the picker stick to therebymaintain the filling thread or yarn under proper tension and to preventthe usual picker from engaging the usual lay end plate.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferredembodiment of the invention and although specific terms are employed,they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only, and not forpurposes of 'limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in theclaims.

I claim: 1. An improvement in a parallel motion for picker sticks in aloom having an oscillatable parallel provided with an elongatedlongitudinally extending slot through which the picker stick extends andhaving an oscillatable shoe mounted on the parallel and having anelongated slot through which the picker stick passes and means forsecuring the picker stick to the shoe; the improvement comprising atransversely disposed member spanning the slot in the parallel, a membersecured to the stick and extending through the slots in the shoe andparallel and having a'transverse opening in its lower end penetrated bysaid transverse member, resilient means disposed between the outer endof the parallel and the lower end of the picker stick tending to movethe upper end of the picker stick away from the central portion of theloom and second resilient means secured to the member secured to thepicker stick and engaging the lower surface of the parallel upon theupper end of the picker stick approaching the end of its travel awayfrom the central portion of the loom.

2. An improvement in a parallel motion for picker sticks in a loomhaving an oscillatable parallel provided with a longitudinally extendingslot through which the picker stick extends and having an oscillatableshoe mounted on the parallel and having a slot through which the pickerstick extends and means for securing the picker stick to the shoe; theimprovement comprising resilient means disposed between the outer end ofthe parallel and the lower end of the picker stick biasing the upper endof the picker stick away from the central portion of the loom, and otherresilient means disposed between the lower end of the picker stick andan inner portion of the parallel and engageable with the parallel uponthe upper end of the picker approaching the end of its outward travelfor arresting outward travel of the upper end of the picker stick.

3. An improvement in a parallel motion for picker sticks in a loomhaving an oscillatable parallel provided with a longitudinally extendingslot through which the picker stick extends and having an oscillatableshoe mounted on the parallel and having a slot through which the pickerstick extends and means for securing the picker stick to the shoe; theimprovement comprising resilient means disposed between the outer end ofthe parallel and the lower end of the picker stick biasing the upper endof the picker stick away from the central portion of the loom, a rigidmember, means connecting one end of the rigid member to the lower end ofthe picker stick, said rigid member extending inwardly below theparallel, and resilient means secured on the inner end of the rigidmember for engaging the parallel upon the upper end of the picker stickapproaching the end of its outward travel away from the central portionof the loom for arresting outward travel of the picker stick.

4. An improvement in a parallel motion for a picker stick and a loomhaving an oscillatable parallel base provided with an elongatedlongitudinally extending slot through which the picker stick extends andhaving an oscillatable shoe mounted on the parallel base and having anelongated slot through which the picker stick passes and means forsecuring the picker stick to said shoe; the improvement comprising abolt spanning the slot in the parallel, a J-shaped member disposed insaid slots and having its longer leg secured to the picker stick andshoe and having the lower portion of the longer leg and the shorter legdisposed on both sides of the bolt in the parallel, inward checkingmeans comprising a heel plate secured to the outer edge of said pickerstick relative to the tongue and having an outwardly projecting portionon the lower end thereof adjacent the lower end of the picker stick, anextension on the outer end of said parallel base disposed outwardly ofthe outer end of said parallel shoe, a compression spring, meansconnecting one end of the compression spring to the extension, and meansconnecting the other end of the compression spring to said heel plate, arigid member secured to the lower end of said J-shaped tongue andextending inwardly therefrom away from the picker stick, and a resilientbumper carried by said rigid member and being so positioned as to engagethe lower surface of the parallel base in the course of outward swingingmovement of the picker stick for checking movement thereof and wherebyinward movement of the picker stick is checked by the compressionspring.

5. In a loom having a parallel: motion including a parallel base havinga slot therethrough, a parallel shoe having a slot therethrough, apicker stick secured to the parallel shoe and extending through saidslots and terminating below said parallel base, a rigid member disposedbeneath the parallel base, means securing oneend.

of the rigid member to the inner edge and lower end of the picker stick,a resilient bumper carried by the rigid member and being spaced inwardlyfrom the picker stick and being adapted to engage the lower surface ofthe parallel base in the course of outward swinging movement of thepicker stick, a compression spring disposed outwardly of the pickerstick, means connecting the'lower end of the compression spring to thelower end of said picker stick, and means connecting the upper end ofthe compression spring to the outer end of said parallel base wherebysaid compression spring otters gradually increasing resistance to inwardmovement of the picker stick duringthe course of inward swingingmovement thereof.

6. In a loom having a parallel motion including a parallel base having aslot therethrough, a parallel shoe having a slot therethrough, a pickerstick secured to the parallel shoe and extending through said slots andterminating below said parallel base, a rigid member disposed beneaththe parallel base, means securing one end of the rigid member to theinner edge and lower end of the picker stick, a resilient bumper carriedby the rigid member and being spaced inwardly from the picker stick andbeing adapted to engage the lower surface of the parallel base in thecourse of outward swinging movementof the picker stick, a compression,spring disposed outwardly of the picker stick, means connecting thelower end of the compression spring to the lower end of said pickerstick, means connecting the upper end of the compression spring to theouter end of said parallel base whereby said compression spring oflersgradually increasing resistance to inward movement of the picker stickduring the course of inward swinging movement thereof, said meansconnecting the lower end of the compression spring to the picker stickcomprising a relatively thin heel plate conforming substantially to theshape of the lower end of the picker stick, means securing said heelplate to the outer edge of the picker stick, an outwardly projectingportion on the lower end of said heel plate, and a pilot projecting fromthe outwardly projecting portion of said heel plate on which the lowerend of said compression spring is mounted.

7. In a loom having a parallel motion including a parallel base having aslot therethrough, a parallel shoe having a slot therethrough, a pickerstick secured to the parallel shoe and extending through said slots andterminating below said parallel base, a rigid member disposed beneaththe parallel base, means securing one end of the rigid member to theinner edge and lower end of the picker stick, a resilient bumper carriedby the rigid member and being spaced inwardly from the picker stick andbeing adapted to engage the lower surface of the parallel base in thecourse of outward swinging movement of the picker stick, a compressionspring dis posed outwardly of the picker stick, means connecting thelower end of the compression spring to the lower end of said pickerstick, means connecting the upper end of the compression spring to theouter end of said parallel base whereby said compression spring ottersgradually increasing resistance to inward movement of the picker stickduring the course of inward swinging movement.

thereof, said means connecting the lower end of the compression springto the picker stick comprising a relatively thin heel plate conforming.substantially to the shape of.

compression spring ismounted, said means. connecting.

the upper end of the compression spring to said parallel base includinga pilot member adapted to be encircled by the upper portion of saidcompression spring, said pilot member having an enlarged portion thereonagainst which the upper end of. said compression spring seats, a

threaded portion on said pilot member threadablypenetrating the outerend of said parallel base, and a lock nut threadabiy mounted on thethreaded portion for maintaining the pilot member in adjusted positionrelative to the parallel base.

8. In a loom having a parallel motion including a parallel base having aslot therethrough, aparallel shoe having a slot therethrough, a pickerstick secured to the parallel shoe and extending through said slots andtermi nating below said parallel base, a rigid member disposed beneaththe parallel base, means securing'one end of the rigid member to theinner edge and lower. end of the picker stick, a resilient bumpercarried by the rigid member andbeing spaced inwardly from the pickerstick and being adapted to engage the lower surface of the parallel basein the course ofc outward swingingmovement of the picker stick, acompression spring disposed. outwardly of the picker stick, meansconnecting the lower end of the compression spring to the. lower end ofsaid picker stick, means connecting the upper end of the compressionspring to the outer end of said parallel base whereby said compressionspring otters gradually increasing resistance to inward movement of thepicker stick during the course of inward swinging. movementthereof, saidmeans connecting the upper end of the com-- pression spring to saidparallel base including a pilot member adapted to be encircled by theupper portionof said compression spring, said pilot member havinganenlarged portion thereon against which the upper end of saidcompression spring seats, a threaded portion on said pilot memberthreadably penetrating the outer end of said parallel base, and a locknut threadably mounted on the threaded portion for maintaining the pilotmember in adjusted position relative to the parallel base.

9. In a loom having a parallel motion including a parallel base having aslot therethrough, a parallel shoe having a slot therethrough, a pickerstick secured to the parallel shoe and extending through said slots. andterminating below said parallel base, a rigidmemberdisposed beneath theparallel base, means securing-one end of the rigid member to the inneredge and lower end of the picker stick, a resilient bumper carried bythe rigid member and being spaced inwardly from the picker stick andbeing adapted to engage the lower surface of the parallel base in thecourse of outward swingingmovement of the picker stick, a compressionspring disposed outwardly of the picker stick, means connecting thelower end of the compression spring to the lower end of saidpickerstick, meansconnecting the upper end of the compression spring to theouter end of said parallel base whereby said compression spring ottersgradually increasing resistance to inward movement of the picker stickduring the course of inward swinging movement thereof, said meansconnecting the lower end of the compression spring to the picker stickcomprising a relatively thin heel plate conforming substantiallyv to theshape of the lower end of the picker stick, means securing said heelplate to the outer edge of the picker stick, an outwardly projectingportion on the lower end of said heel plate, a pilot projecting from theoutwardly projecting portion of said heel plate on which the lower. endof said compression spring is mounted, said means connecting the upperend of the compression spring to said parallel base including a pilotmember adapted to be encircled by the upper portion of said compressionspring, said pilot member having an enlarged portion thereon againstwhich the upper end of said compression spring seats, a threaded portionon said pilot member penetrating the outer end of said parallel base,and a lock nut threadably mounted on the threaded portion formaintaining the pilot member in adjusted position relative to theparallel base.

10. In a loom having a parallel motion including a parallel base havinga slot therethrough, a parallel shoe having a slot therethrough, apicker stick secured to the parallel shoe and extending through saidslots and terminating below said parallel base, a rigid member having alateral projection disposed beneath the parallel base, a transversemember mounted in the slot in the parallel base on which the rigidmember has pivotal and sliding movement, means securing one end of therigid member to the picker stick adjacent the inner edge and lower endthereof, and a resilient bumper carried by the rigid member and beingspaced inwardly from the picker stick and being adapted to engage thelower surface of the parallel base as the picker stick approaches thelimit of an outward stroke.

11. In a loom having a parallel motion including a parallel base havinga slot therethrough, a parallel shoe having a slot therethrough, apicker stick secured to the parallel shoe and extending through saidslots and terminating below said parallel base, a rigid member having alateral projection disposed beneath the parallel base, a transversemember mounted in the slot in the parallel base on which the rigidmember has pivotal and sliding movement, means securing one end of therigid member to the picker stick adjacent the inner edge and lower endthereof, a resilient bumper carried by the rigid member and being spacedinwardly from the picker stick and being adapted to engage the lowersurface of the parallel base as the picker stick approaches the limit ofan outward stroke, and means for adjusting said resilient bumper on saidrigid member toward and away from said picker stick.

12. In a loom having a parallel motion including a parallel base havinga slot therethrough, a parallel shoe having a slot therethrough, apicker stick secured to the parallel shoe and extending through saidslots and terminating below said parallel base, a rigid member disposedbeneath the parallel base, means securing one end of the rigid member tothe picker stick adjacent the inner edge and lower end thereof, aresilient bumper carried by the rigid member and being spaced inwardlyfrom the picker stick and being adapted to engage the lower surface ofthe parallel base as the picker stick approaches the limit of an outwardstroke, and means for adjusting the resilient bumper toward and awayfrom said rigid member to vary the time at which the bumper engages theparallel base relative to the position of the picker stick as itapproaches the limit of an outward stroke.

13. In a loom having a parallel motion including a parallel base havinga slot therethrough, a parallel shoe having a slot therethrough, apicker stick secured to the parallel shoe and extending through saidslots and terminating below said parallel base, a compression springdisposed outwardly of the picker stick, means connecting the lower endof the compression spring to the lower end of said picker stick, meansconnecting the upper end of the compression spring to the outer end ofsaid parallel base whereby said compression spring offers graduallyincreasing resistance to inward movement of the picker stick during thecourse of inward movement thereof, said means connecting the lower endof the compression spring to the picker stick comprising a relativelythin heel plate conforming substantially to the shape of the lower endof the picker stick, means securing said heel plate to the outer edge ofthe picker stick, an outwardly projecting portion on the lowerend of'said heel plate, and a pilot projectingfrom the outwardly projectingportion of said heel plate on which the lower end of said compressionspring is mounted.

14. In a loom having a parallel motion including a parallel base havinga slot therethrough, a parallel shoe having a slot therethrough, apicker stick. secured to the parallel shoe and extending through saidslots and terminating below said parallel base, a compression springdisposed outwardly of the picker stick, means connecting the lower endof the compressionspring to the lower end of said picker stick, meansconnecting the upper end of 'the compression spring to the outer end ofsaid parallel base whereby said compression spring offers graduallyincreasing resistance to inward movement of the picker stick during thecourse of inward movement thereof, said means connecting the upper endof the compression spring to said parallel base including a pilot memberadapted to be encircled by the upper portion of said compression spring,said pilot member havingan enlarged portion thereon against which theupper end of said compression spring seats, a threaded portion on saidpilot member threadably penetrating the outer end of said parallel base,and a lock nut threadably mounted on the threaded portion formaintaining the pilot member in adjusted position relative to theparallel base. I

15. In a loom having a parallel motion including a parallel base havinga slot therethrough, a parallel shoe having a slot therethrough, apicker stick secured to the parallel shoe and extending through saidslots and terminating below said parallel base, a compression springdisposed outwardly of the picker stick, means connecting the lower endof the compression spring to the lower end of said picker stick, meansconnecting the upper end of the compression spring to the outer end ofsaid parallel base whereby said compression spring offers graduallyincreasing resistance to inward movement of the picker stick during thecourse of inward movement thereof, said means connecting the lower endof the compression spring to the picker stick comprising a relativelythin heel plate conforming substantially to the shape of the lower endof the picker sticldmeans securing said heel plate to the outer edge ofthe'picker stick, an outwardly projecting portion on the lower end ofsaid heel plate, a pilot projecting from the outwardly projectingportion of said heel plate on which the lower end of said compressionspring is mounted, said means connecting the upper end of thecompression spring to said parallel base including a pilot memberadapted to be encircled by the upper portion of said compression spring,said pilot member having'an enlarged portion thereon against which theupper end of said compression spring seats, a threaded portion on saidpilot member threadably penetrating the outer end of said parallel base,and a lock nut threadably mounted on the threaded portion formaintaining the pilot member in adjusted position relative to theparallel base.

16. An improvement in a parallel motion for looms wherein said loom hasan oscillatable rocker shaft and said parallel motion includes aparallel shoe having a slot therethrough and a picker stick secured tosaid shoe and extending through said slot; said improvement comprising aparallel base having a hub adapted to be fixed on said rocker shaft, aplate portion integral with said hub and extending outwardly therefrom,said plate portion being substantially concentric with said hub, saidparallel shoe being adapted to rest upon said plate portion and tooscillate parallel to the axis of said shaft, said plate portion havinga slot therethrough through which said picker stick also extends, arigid member disposed beneath the plate portion of the parallel base,means securing one end of the rigid member to the inner edge and lowerend of the picker stick, a resilient bumper carried by the rigid memberand being spaced inwardly from the picker stick and being adapted toengage the lower surface of the parallel base in the course of outwardswinging movementof the picker stick, a compression spring disposedoutwardly of' the picke'r sti'ck, means connecting. the lower end of thecompression 'springfl tothe lower end' of said picker stick, and meansconnecting.

the upper end of the compression spring to the outer end having a slottherethrough, a picker stick secured to the parallel shoe and. extendingthrough said slot and termi nating below said parallel, base, a rigidmember havinga lateral projection disposed beneath. the parallel base,.a transverse member mounted in the slot in the parallel base on whichtherigid member. has pivotal and sliding movement, means securing one endof the rigid memberto the picker stick adjacent the inner edge and lowerend thereof'and a resilient bumper carried by the rigid member and beingspaced inwardly from the picker stick and being adapted to engage thelower surface of a parallel base as the picker stick approaches thelimit of an outward stroke.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSBurieigh Aug. 9, 1870 Huggins Jan. 14, 1936

